Chapter 214: The Illness of Daiyu, the Queen's Smile

"What are you doing?"

Luo Zijun looked at the people in the room and asked with feigned ease.

But why did he have to feign ease?

It seemed he hadn't done anything particularly wrong, had he?

"Young Master Luo..."

The maids and nannies of the Jia Mansion all hurriedly greeted him, their gazes toward him somewhat complex, as if they had discerned something from the snow-white fox fur on the young girl by the window.

Jia Yingchun and Lin Daiyu also hurriedly stood up, lowered their heads, and offered greetings.

Liu Chujian, however, smiled slightly, a hint of mischievous schadenfreude seemingly appearing in her eyes.

As for the stunning beauty by the window, she continued to watch the drifting snowflakes outside, her expression cold and arrogant.

Luo Zijun spread his hands and said, "What are you all doing? Why aren't you chatting?"

The room fell quiet again.

Liu Chujian smiled and said, "We were all waiting for Brother Zijun to come and chat."

Luo Zijun had no choice but to walk to the window and say, "Senior Sister, why did you run over here? I just went to Bao'an Hall; Master was dozing off, and there was no one to watch the shop."

Su Qingling then turned her head, gave him a cold look, and said, "Is the laundry done?"

Luo Zijun felt somewhat awkward and hurriedly whispered, "The weather hasn't been good lately; I'll bring it to you in a few days."

Su Qingling seemed to be intentionally embarrassing him and added, "And the socks?"

Luo Zijun whispered, "In a few days..."

Clearly, at this moment, the gazes of everyone else in the room were fixed here, and their little ears were pricked up.

Silence for several breaths.

Su Qingling's gaze suddenly fell upon that Lin Meimei, and she asked in a flat tone, "Is the clothing she is wearing also something you made for her?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Daiyu's face instantly turned red, and she hurriedly helped explain, "It wasn't made by Young Master Luo; it was made by our household..."

Luo Zijun also explained, "There is a maid in their household named Qingwen who is very skilled at making clothes. I met her when I went to the Jia Mansion last time, and seeing that it was cold and snowing, I asked her to help make one for Senior Sister. The one Lin Guniang is wearing should also have been made by that Qingwen."

Su Qingling stared at Lin Meimei for a while longer, then suddenly walked over and reached out to grasp her wrist.

This action immediately gave everyone else a fright.

Lin Daiyu's maids and nannies had their expressions change, and they hurriedly rushed over.

Liu Chujian was stunned for a moment, but immediately reacted and hurriedly said, "Sister Su is a physician; she is taking Lin Guniang's pulse."

Once these words were spoken, the maids and nannies stopped in their tracks, their faces full of astonishment.

Lin Daiyu stood there blankly, her touching, pitiful eyes reflecting the cold and stunning face before her.

No one in the room dared to make a sound.

It was quiet for a long time.

Su Qingling finally released her hand slowly, looked at the pitiable face before her, remained silent for a moment, and spoke expressionlessly: "Congenital physical weakness, soul deficiency, lung disease, coughing up blood; she will not live past next year."

Lin Daiyu: "..."

Once these words were spoken, everyone was shocked and terrified.

The maids and nannies of the Jia Mansion were both shocked and angry; they all glared at her, wanting to curse out loud, but dared not.

Luo Zijun hurriedly said, "My Senior Sister is not intentionally cursing anyone. Lin Guniang's body is indeed sickly, and she is also sentimental, prone to getting emotional and shedding tears. If things continue to develop this way, I also feel she might not live past next year."

The faces of those maids and nannies instantly turned pale.

Zijuan and Xueyan hurriedly came over, knelt before him with a "thump," and cried, "Young Master Luo, please save our young lady!"

Luo Zijun did not speak, his gaze turning toward his Senior Sister.

He truly did not have that ability.

Su Qingling remained as cold and aloof as ever, only saying flatly, "Prepare for her funeral."

Having said that, she left coldly.

The maids and nannies of the Jia Mansion immediately burst into loud sobs.

"Senior Sister!"

Luo Zijun chased her to the top of the stairs, only to see her leave downstairs without looking back.

Was there really no saving her?

If this were just the world of Dream of the Red Chamber, there would indeed be no saving her, but it is different now; this is a world with martial artists, demons, and Spirit Pills.

"Congenital physical weakness, soul deficiency, lung disease..."

He muttered a few times, his heart suddenly stirring: physical weakness, soul deficiency...

"Young Master Luo..."

At this moment, Lin Meimei looked at him and said softly, "The fortune you told me before—'Jade belt hanging in the forest, gold hairpin buried in the snow'... and the poem you wrote in the palace that night, 'Fragrance fades, jade grows cold, moon shines on withered flowers'... that is actually what you meant, isn't it?"

Luo Zijun was silent for a moment and said, "If Lin Guniang could be more open-minded, worry less about the spring and mourn less for the autumn, and cry less, it is not impossible to live a longer life."

Lin Daiyu gave a bitter smile and said, "Young Master Luo truly calculated everything. So you must also know in your heart that no matter what, my fate cannot be changed, right?"

Luo Zijun said, "Of course not. The fortune I calculated was based on the environment, which is not the same as the environment you are in now, and the people around you are also different."

Lin Daiyu's two brows, resembling knitted smoke, revealed a hint of confusion.

Luo Zijun did not explain, only saying, "Lin Guniang, first do as I say: don't sit alone when you have nothing to do, don't let your imagination run wild, and if you have time, come out often to play with your sisters, chat, and go shopping; keep your mood happy every day. More than half of a person's illnesses are caused by their mood; if the mood is good, many illnesses will disappear."

Lin Daiyu lowered her head in thought.

Liu Chujian, who was to the side, came over, took her hand, and said, "If you have nothing to do, Lin Guniang, you can often come here to read and chat with me. I am very bored when I am alone, and Yingchun has also moved over; it will be livelier if we talk together."

Jia Yingchun also said, "That's right, Daiyu, you must come over often to keep me company."

Lin Daiyu raised her head, glanced at someone, her cheeks slightly red, and whispered, "Mm, if I have time, I will come. It just so happens that I like reading, and this place is full of books."

Liu Chujian also glanced at someone and said with a deliberate smile, "It's not just books."

Lin Daiyu lowered her head, her long eyelashes drooping, appearing somewhat guilty.

Liu Chujian smiled and said, "There is also the scenery on the streets, the lively sounds of people, and the sisters."

Jia Yingchun smiled and said, "That's right, and we can go out for a stroll whenever we want."

Luo Zijun looked at Lin Meimei's three Young Maids and instructed, "Zijuan, Xueyan, Chunxian, you must look after your young lady every day. If she is daydreaming, or crying, or sitting alone reciting some messy poems, you must stop her immediately and make her happy right away. If that doesn't work, tickle her; you must make her laugh."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone suddenly laughed.

The three Young Maids also broke into smiles through their tears and said, "Yes, we will definitely not let our young lady cry."

Liu Chujian suddenly asked with a half-smile, "Brother Zijun, how do you know all three of Lin Guniang's maids?"

The room suddenly went quiet.

Every time Lin Meimei came out, she mostly only brought Zijuan, occasionally she would bring Xueyan, and as for Chunxian, she rarely brought her.

It was rare for all three maids to be together. Moreover, every time they met, people wouldn't introduce their maids one by one, and Lin Meimei had never taken the initiative to introduce them either.

So, how was he so familiar with them?

"Hmph, he must have secretly inquired about them long ago and kept it in his heart."

At this moment, Bi'er suddenly muttered not far away.

Upon hearing this, everyone's gaze became strange.

Lin Daiyu's face instantly flushed, and she looked secretly at someone, seemingly wanting to hear his explanation as well.

Zijuan, Xueyan, and Chunxian also blushed.

Luo Zijun gave a "cough cough" to break the silence and said, "I only remembered them because I heard others call their names."

He really wasn't specifically memorizing Lin Meimei's maids; he knew every maid with a name in the entire Jia Mansion.

Liu Chujian smiled and said, "Is that so?"

Luo Zijun said, "Chujian, what are you suspecting? Are you suspecting that I have ulterior motives toward Lin Guniang's... three Young Maids?"

!

Liu Chujian chuckled and said, "No, I was just asking casually. Brother Zijun, if you have time, continue writing your book; Lin Guniang is waiting to read it. When you finish writing it, Lin Guniang can come here to help you polish it."

Luo Zijun looked at Lin Meimei.

Lin Daiyu blushed and said in a low voice, "I truly wish to read the book written by Young Master Luo again... as for polishing, how could I be qualified?"

Luo Zijun said, "With Lin Guniang's talent, you are naturally qualified."

Lin Daiyu met his gaze for a moment, then hurriedly lowered her head with a flushed face, her heart beating rapidly.

"Young lady, it is dark outside, we should go back."

At this moment, a nanny spoke up.

Lin Daiyu said "Mm" and stood up.

Jia Yingchun also stood up and said, "Young Master Luo, after my grandmother returned from the palace last time, she caught a cold, so I have to stay in the mansion to accompany her these few days, therefore..."

Luo Zijun said, "It's fine, just stay in the mansion; you can come over whenever you want."

Jia Yingchun said "Mm."

Liu Chujian said, "Let's go, I will see you off. It is time to go back early; the weather is cold and the roads are slippery. Go back early to rest and come over to play again tomorrow."

The group went downstairs.

Luo Zijun also followed them down and saw them to the door.

The maids and nannies surrounded Jia Yingchun and Lin Meimei as they boarded the carriage.

The window curtain was gently lifted.

Lin Meimei revealed that beautiful face and those eyes that invited pity, waving at the two of them. On her pink cheeks, there were still two traces of sickly red, which, reflected by the white fox fur, made her appear even more delicate, weak, and moving.

Luo Zijun watched her, thinking about how this Lin Meimei was physically weak and fragile in spirit.

And Lin Meimei in the carriage, seeing him staring at her in such a daze, immediately lowered the curtain in shyness, but after the carriage had traveled a few steps, she couldn't help but lift a tiny gap to peek outside.

Jia Yingchun suddenly smiled in the carriage and said, "Daiyu, are you reluctant to leave?"

Lin Daiyu immediately sat up straight with a flushed face, put her hand down, and said, "Not at all, I was just looking at the snow outside."

Jia Yingchun smiled and said, "Is that snow very handsome?"

Lin Daiyu gave a "chi" laugh and said, "Yingchun sister, when did you learn to joke?"

Jia Yingchun's smile faded slightly, then she sighed and said, "It's a pity I didn't come out sooner and let go sooner. If I had come out sooner and let go sooner, I could have been happy sooner. Daiyu, Young Master Luo is right; you must be happy and joyful every day. Only by living like that does it have meaning."

Lin Daiyu was silent for a moment and said, "I am different from you; at least you have a home."

Jia Yingchun was instantly filled with heartache and hurriedly held her small hand, saying, "Daiyu, that is also your home; everyone is your family, don't think nonsense."

Lin Daiyu sighed softly and said, "I know, everyone is very good to me, but many times, I feel that I am just an outsider... My dearest father and mother are no longer here. Every time I watch everyone being lively, I think, if only father and mother were both here..."

Speaking of this, she suddenly choked up, her eyes turned red, and tears spilled out.

Zijuan, who was beside her, hurriedly said, "Young lady, if you continue like this, this servant will jump off the carriage and go call Young Master Luo!"

Xueyan also said, "If Young Master Luo sees the young lady crying as soon as she leaves, he will probably be very angry. If Young Master Luo gets angry, he might even hit the young lady. I heard Third Miss say that Young Master Luo used to love hitting disobedient women the most."

"Puchi..."

Lin Daiyu immediately broke into a smile through her tears.

Jia Yingchun also laughed and said, "Xueyan, did Tanchun really say that?"

Xueyan smiled and said, "This servant wouldn't dare to joke about Young Master Luo; Third Miss really did say it. Third Miss said that Young Master Luo used to be very fierce, and when he was studying at West Lake Academy, he often hit and scolded the women there."

Lin Daiyu wiped her tears and smiled, "Tanchun sister must be teasing you all. Young Master Luo is gentle and refined, and has always been polite; how could he possibly hit or scold women?"

Xueyan said, "If the young lady doesn't believe it, go back and ask Third Miss yourself."

With this joking, the atmosphere in the carriage suddenly became light.

The three Young Maids looked at each other, and all secretly thought: In the future, if the young lady cries again, we will immediately use Young Master Luo to cure her.

Outside the carriage, the night had completely fallen.

At this moment.

Inside the Royal Palace, at Yaohua Palace.

In a room filled with red decorations, the warmth was thick; the Queen had her long, jet-black hair draped down, wore a red light-gauze long dress, and with her snow-white, graceful jade feet bare, she was lying on her side with a curvaceous figure on a daybed covered with a velvet rug, flipping through a book in her hands.

The height of her chest, the slenderness of her waist, the roundness and perkiness behind her, and those long, slender, pressed-together legs outlined an alluring, undulating curve beneath the red gauze dress.

At this time, a maidservant came to report: "Reporting to Your Highness, he went out today."

The Queen raised those charming and provocative peach-blossom eyes, glanced at her, and said indifferently: "Today? He only stayed home lying down for three days... Hmph, it seems he is indeed becoming stronger and stronger; no wonder that night..."

She paused.

She looked at the snowflakes falling outside the window, a trace of smugness and mockery appearing slightly at the corners of her mouth.

"Sister, oh sister, when I was a demon I couldn't compare to you, and after being reincarnated as a human, I still couldn't compare to you, but now..."

"What a coincidence; I just picked one at random in the temple back then, never expecting that he would actually become your husband now..."

"He wouldn't happen to be the person you wanted to repay a debt of gratitude to, would he?"

"No matter who he is, this time, I have won... Five times, six times, seven times, eight times... Hehe, I really want to let you see the pitiful appearance of your husband being bullied by me under my body every time..."

"He actually enjoys it very much and is very happy."

"The next time will be the ninth time... Moreover, this Palace intends to make him keep calling your name while he is happy; consider it a small favor from your good younger sister out of pity for you..."

"Hahahahahaha..."

On the daybed, the Queen, who was always cold, arrogant, and dignified, suddenly laughed wildly, her body trembling with laughter, her voice chilling.

The maidservant kneeling on the ground immediately shivered with fear.

(End of this chapter)